Google IO 2023 is this year’s version of the search giant’s developer conference, where it’s likely to make some big tech announcements, including the arrival of Android 14 and the public arrival of its Bing-rival Bard chatbot.
We now know that the Google IO 2023 keynote will take place on May 10, so that’s the date tech fans can put in their Google calendars. This year’s keynote will be for a limited live audience, but there will also be the usual live stream for those unable to make it to California.
So what exactly do we expect to see at Google IO 2023 and how can you tune in? We’ve gathered all the key information about Google’s equivalent of Apple’s WWDC (which usually takes place in June) in this handy roundup.
Given the rise of AI chatbots like Microsoft’s new ChatGPT-powered Bing, the rumors understandably predict that Google will be building artificial intelligence even further into most of its services this year. But since Android 14 will likely feature prominently as well, Google IO 2023 is likely to be a must-watch for tech fans of all levels.
Cut to the chase
- What is it? Google’s annual developer conference
- When is it? May 10, 2023
- How can I register and what does it cost? You can register at the Google events page (opens in new tab) and it’s free – all you need is a Google account.
What are the dates of Google IO 2023?
Google has announced that its developer conference and keynote will take place on Wednesday, May 10. Unlike last year, it is a one-day event.
The time of the traditional keynote has not yet been confirmed, but we expect it to take place on May 10 around 1pm ET / 6pm GMT, which equates to around 4am AEST on May 11.
This was the time of last year’s Google IO 2022 keynote, but we’ll update this page when we get an official time.
How to Register for Google IO 2023
While it is not possible to request a personal ticket for Google IO 2023, you can register online to access all virtual sessions, keynotes and news. To register, just go to the Google IO event page (opens in new tab) and sign in with your standard Google account.
You don’t have to register to see all keynotes and sessions, but it does have the benefit of getting all the latest developer news via what Google calls “non-spam email”. You also get a developer profile that allows you to save relevant videos and watch them later, which you can’t do without registering.
With the Google IO 2023 sessions expected to cover everything from Android to AI and machine learning, it’s worth signing up if you have developer ambitions (or are just interested in the nuts and bolts of Google apps ).
What to expect at Google IO 2023
It’s still pretty early days for Google IO rumours, but based on a combination of recent leaks and previous editions of the conference, we can get a good idea of the kind of announcements we’re likely to see.
So here are, in rough order of probability, the top things we expect to see at Google IO 2023 – and if we get another bonus extra like Google’s AR glasses for live translation, so much the better.
1. Google Bard and AI Announcements
Google is somewhat confused with AI chatbots. On the one hand, it needs to show that it has the technology to compete with the ChatGPT powered Bing. That’s why it announced Google Bard in February, saying the chatbot would open to the public in “the coming weeks”.
But according to CNBC (opens in new tab), apparently a recent internal Google meeting made it very clear that “Bard isn’t looking”. Therefore, at Google IO 2023, we will likely continue to see the AI chatbot presented as an “experimental conversational AI service”, rather than a next-gen version of Google Search. Whether we’ll see Bard open to the public before or during the conference remains to be seen.
Chatbots are also just a small part of AI technology, and Google’s IO conference has traditionally seen examples of artificial intelligence and machine learning working across all of its apps. For example, at Google IO 2018 we got a glimpse of Google Duplex, a virtual agent that could make calls for you, while Google IO 2022 saw AI subtly woven into products like Google Docs.
Expect to see more of the same at Google IO 2023, but with a much stronger AI theme than last year’s developer conference. For example according to a New York Times report (opens in new tab)we could see features like ‘Shopping Try-on’ (a YouTube feature that lets you try on virtual clothes at home) and a Dall-E rival that lets you create and edit images.
2. A close look at Android 14
The latest Android operating system is already underway developer preview stage (opens in new tab) and will be released in beta sometime between mid-March and April. However, Android 14 won’t be released to the public until August, so we expect Google to spend a lot of time outlining the software’s new tricks at Google IO 2023.
Some expected new features include support for satellite communications and the ability to handle passwords, which could finally replace passwords and are considered both more secure and easier to use.
Of course, we also expect Android 14 to bring some quality of life upgrades, including improved efficiency, improved battery life, and some improved accessibility features. There will also likely be a boost to OS security, but of course some phones will miss out on the Android 14 update, including the Google Pixel 4a.
3. The arrival of the Google Pixel 7a
Google hasn’t been consistent with the launches of its mid-range A-model Pixels, but it’s still a good bet we’ll see the Google Pixel 7a.
Like the Google Pixel 6a, we expect its successor to be announced at least in May, which would make Google IO 2023 the most sensible place to unveil it. But it may very well ship later – the Pixel 6a, for example, was only on sale two months after its announcement in July 2022.
(Image credit: @OnLeaks/SmartPrix)
There haven’t been many Pixel 7a leaks so far, but it’s expected to have Google’s latest Tensor G2 chipset and a design very similar to the Google Pixel 7 (which again means no headphone jack) .
Back in January, a few hands-on videos also suggested that the Pixel 7a could have a 90Hz display, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, but at this point this is all speculation. Expect Google to give us the official skinny on stage at Google IO 2023.
4. A launch date for the Google Pixel Tablet (finally)
The Google Pixel tablet was unveiled to the world during Google IO 2022, but incredibly it still hasn’t actually hit stores. That could potentially change on Google IO 2023.
Despite fears that the Pixel tablet will go straight to the infamous Google graveyard, the company has confirmed that it is aiming to launch the Pixel tablet sometime in 2023. The question now is when.
We think a launch at Google’s traditional Pixel event in October is more likely, but it seems likely that the company will at least name the tablet at its developer conference in May.
After all, it’s expected to run Android 12L, which is designed for larger screen devices, and will also feature Google’s latest Tensor G2 chipset. That makes it a contender for a spot in our guide to the best Android tablets, so hopefully we’ll hear more about it soon.
5. A debut for the Google Pixel Fold
Another one to put in the “maybe” category for Google IO 2023 is a highly anticipated announcement for the Google Pixel Fold.
We have been expecting the arrival of Google on the foldable phone since the end of 2022. But now the latest rumors point to a May launch, which would tie in nicely with Google’s developer conference.
Those rumors unfortunately quelled our excitement about the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 rival, with the leaked images suggesting it could in fact be a larger Pixel phone with surprisingly large bezels above and below the screen.
With a price tag expected to be in the region of $1,799 (around £1,520 / AU$2,660), it’s going to be a niche phone. But our interest has been piqued again by the suggestion that the Pixel Fold, like the Google Pixel 7 Pro, could have three cameras. If so, that could potentially make it the best folding camera phone out there.
6. New tricks for Google Maps, Google Lens and more
A staple of Google IO conferences are fancy new tricks for services like Google Maps, Google Translate, and Google Lens that then disappear for several months before finally launching.
For example, at Google IO 2022, we first saw Google Maps’ immersive view, which looked super useful for everything from checking out neighborhoods to becoming our favorite new photography sidekick.
But the feature only launched in February in five cities (that’s London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Tokyo) during Google’s “Live from Paris” event. So whatever you see announced at Google IO 2023, expect to wait a while to see them on your phone or laptop.
But with AI expected to be a big theme of the conference, there could be some seriously impressive updates to Google Translate, Google Maps, Google Docs, Google Lens and more.
7. A Wear OS makeover
Last year was a big year for Google-powered smartwatches – at Google IO 2022, we saw the Google Pixel Watch finally announced with Wear OS 3.
Since then, the Apple Watch rival platform has grown steadily, thanks to the arrival of Wear OS 3.5 and some of the best Wear OS watches we’ve seen to date, including the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro.
What will we see at Google IO 2023? There haven’t been any major rumors so far, but some new Wear OS design guidelines suggest that Google is really pushing consistency and polish on the software experience, and there are strong rumors of new Wear OS players like Xiaomi.
It may still be too early for a preview of Watch OS 4 at Google IO 2023, but we expect to hear some announcements that will further boost the growing momentum of the smartwatch platform.